T H E K I S S - U P | P A G E 2
21 March
Oh, Greg!
pursue! Absolutely! Potentially really rich terrain. So gratifying to have my faith in you corroborated. Spoke to Sonny about it. Very interested. Dinner at Independent -- vaguely lousy steak fries -- and saw K.H. at a table for five, including -- I think -- John John. Almost went over to say congrats but saw she was also sitting with Seth, to whom I'm not talking.
Baci,
Dot - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - April 4th Dottie: saw the parents on the weekend. Tried planting the seed by telling them how much I needed to break out with the next book, etc., even mentioned "The Kiss" and its success, but no suggestions or offers forthcoming. Remaining hopeful, G. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12 April
Greg, my own:
things speeding up here. Talked to legal at Knopf today. They need something to read by Memorial Day without fail, so I hope plans are proceeding apace. Went up there for a preliminary marketing brainstorm. There's talk of you attending Sales Conference and meeting the Reps.
Mwaahh!
Dorothy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - April 14th Dorothy: beachhead established! Weekend out at the parents ... again! They're thrilled with all the attention. Told Dad I was thinking of writing about having a relationship with Mom, but I don't think he got it entirely. He will soon enough, I suppose. Finally, Sat. nite dinner, I put my hand on my mother's ass in the butler's pantry when we were getting the dessert plates. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she screamed, but there was that all-important catch of ambivalence in her tone. Greg - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16 April
G:
a quick note. Did some wheedling, Yaddo has a room for you in two weeks. They bumped Oscar Hijuelos! Word is getting around in a very big way. Mentioned your hair quandary to Nina at the Harper's party the other night. Apparently there's some Fred Fekkai Leave-in Hair Balm that will work. I'll pick some up and send it along.
Now, get down to work and write (you star, you!). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - April 19th Dorothy: really pleased to hear about the British sale, and the Elle Decor contract arrived yesterday. I know you already talked to them about it, but there's still no mention of the Mondrian under the accommodations clause. Home for "the big weekend," sending Dad off to the auto show. I'll probably be in touch some time later next week. I'm as nervous as a bar mitzvah boy. Thank you for all of this, Dorothy; your faith, persistence and support. I finally know now why I got that M.F.A. It's really a dream come true. Much much love, Greg
David Rakoff is a writer and actor who lives in New York City. His writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Details, and Mademoiselle, among other publications. |
